Your stockpile numbers drive inventory valuation, your tax position, and your reconciliation against scale tickets. Rope-and-wheel estimates and walk-around guesses carry error margins that get expensive fast at volume. RTK drone mapping puts a defensible, documented number on every pile in your yard — usually in a single morning.
I hold MSHA Part 46 New Miner certification. That means I can work your active site without a dedicated escort and without pulling your people off production to babysit a contractor. Most aerial operators cannot say that — and on an active pit, that difference is the whole job.
What you get
Every stockpile survey is delivered as a complete package, not just a folder of photos:
- Per-pile volume report — each pile identified, tied to material type, with volume in cubic yards and tons using your material densities.
- Georeferenced orthomosaic — a measurable, to-scale aerial image of the entire yard.
- Digital surface model — the 3D terrain surface the volumes are calculated from, so the numbers can be audited rather than taken on faith.
- Period-over-period comparison — on recurring flights, volume change per pile since the previous survey.
- Source data on request — point cloud (LAS/LAZ), GeoTIFF, and DXF contours for your engineer.
How the accuracy is controlled
Accuracy in aerial volumetrics comes from ground control, not from the drone. Every flight is RTK-corrected against an Emlid Reach RS2+ GNSS base station set on site, with ground control points distributed across the yard.
Independent checkpoints are held back from processing and used to verify the finished surface — so each report comes with a measured accuracy statement for that specific flight, not a marketing number copied from a spec sheet. If a flight does not meet tolerance, it gets reflown.
Site access, safety, and compliance
- MSHA Part 46 New Miner certified — site access without a dedicated escort.
- FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate, with LAANC authorization handled where controlled airspace applies.
- $1,000,000 liability insurance — certificates of insurance and additional insured endorsements provided on request.
- CDL holder — familiar with haul road traffic patterns and how to stay out of the way of loaded trucks.
- Site-specific hazard awareness training completed on request before first flight.
Flights are planned around your production schedule. In most cases there is no need to stop loading, move equipment, or clear the yard.
Turnaround
A typical single-site yard is flown in two to four hours on site. All mapping and 3D model processing is done in house rather than farmed out, and processed volume reports are delivered within 72 hours of the flight. If a survey is tied to a month-end or fiscal close, say so when you book and the schedule can usually be worked around it.
Recurring inventory programs
Most producers get the real value from a schedule rather than a one-off. Monthly or quarterly flights on a fixed plan produce a consistent, comparable record: the same flight parameters, the same control, the same report format every cycle. That makes period-over-period change meaningful and gives your accountant a defensible inventory trail.
Recurring programs are quoted at a per-site rate with scheduled flight dates set in advance.
What this is — and what it isn’t
Drone Logistic Services provides aerial data collection and photogrammetric products. We are not a licensed land surveying firm and do not provide boundary determinations, legal descriptions, certified survey maps, or sealed survey documents. If your project requires a sealed survey product, that work has to be performed by a licensed Professional Land Surveyor you engage directly. What we deliver is the aerial data and the measurements derived from it, in formats surveyors and engineers work with routinely.
Frequently asked questions
How accurate is drone stockpile measurement compared to a GPS ground survey?
With RTK correction and proper ground control, aerial volumetrics typically agree with conventional GPS ground survey within one to two percent on well-formed piles. The advantage is density of measurement: a ground crew walks a few dozen points across a pile, while a drone survey builds the surface from hundreds of thousands. Every report includes verified checkpoint residuals so you can see the accuracy achieved on that specific flight.
Do you need to shut down operations while you fly?
No. Flights are planned around active haul routes and loading areas, and the aircraft operates well above working equipment. The only coordination usually needed is a heads-up to your yard foreman and access to set a base station and ground control.
Is a drone stockpile report acceptable for inventory valuation and audit?
Aerial volumetric reports are widely used to support inventory valuation in the aggregate industry. Because the deliverable includes the underlying surface model and documented control, the numbers are traceable and reviewable rather than an unsupported estimate. Confirm the specific requirements with your accountant or auditor, since standards vary by firm.
What is MSHA Part 46 and why does it matter for a drone contractor?
Part 46 is the MSHA training standard covering sand, gravel, crushed stone, and other surface aggregate operations. Anyone working on a covered site needs it. A contractor without Part 46 training has to be escorted by trained site personnel the entire time they are on your property — which means pulling one of your people off the job for the duration of the survey. Holding the certification removes that cost and scheduling friction entirely.
How much does a stockpile survey cost?
Pricing depends on yard size, number of piles, travel distance, and whether the work is one-time or on a recurring schedule. Recurring programs are priced lower per flight. Send your site location and approximate acreage and you will have a firm quote within 24 hours.
Can you fly in Wisconsin winter conditions?
Yes, within limits. Cold reduces battery endurance and requires more conservative flight planning, but winter flying is routine here. The real constraints are wind, precipitation, and snow cover on the piles — snow changes the measured surface, so for inventory accuracy, flights are best scheduled around significant accumulation.
Get a quote for your site
Send your site location, approximate yard acreage, and how many piles you are tracking. You will have a scope and price within 24 hours. Serving aggregate operations throughout Wisconsin — including Sheboygan, Fond du Lac, Manitowoc, Milwaukee, Green Bay, Appleton, and Madison — and the greater Chicago area.
Drone Logistic Services 